Next Atletico Madrid manager odds: 3 names to consider

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The managerial landscape is rife with uncertainty given the pushed-back timelines of the domestic league seasons, but there was heavy speculation prior to the hiatus that Diego Simeone could leave his post as Atletico Madrid manager this summer.

Simeone has been at the club since 2011 and, in that time, established himself as one of the best managers in world football, leading the club to one La Liga title, two Europa League triumphs, and a pair of Champions League runner-up medals.

Should he decide to depart, his successor would have massive shoes to fill.

Jose Bordalas

There’s a reason Bordalas is the clear favorite on the oddsboard. The 56-year-old shares a remarkable likeness to Simeone in both personality and tactics. They’re both incredibly passionate, fiery individuals who demand a lot from their squad while adopting a practical approach to its playing styles.

Bordalas manages just down the road in Madrid, where he’s been since 2016, guiding Getafe up from the second division. The club is in the midst of another terrific campaign, as it is into the last-16 of the Europa League and was tied for fourth place in La Liga when the season was suspended, giving it a real shot at Champions League qualification. Bordalas built the club up in his own image and did so brilliantly, leaving little doubt he would experience immediate success at the Wanda Metropolitano should Atleti come knocking.

Mauricio Pochettino

Wouldn’t it be something if Atletico swapped one Argentine for another? Simeone and Pochettino played together with the national team back in the day and know each other quite well. The former Tottenham boss has expressed a desire to manage in Spain and would bring the sort of pedigree and experience to the club that supporters would appreciate.

Of course, the former Spurs gaffer would bring with him a clear shift in styles. Pochettino’s teams play a possession-based, attack-minded style, while Simeone’s Atletico are a lot more comfortable playing deeper and hitting back on the counter.

There’s no reason to think Atletico would be against a shift, but the main hurdle here is the competition they would face for his signature. Pochettino is arguably the most in-demand manager available, with Real Madrid and Newcastle among the clubs after his services. Could Atleti find a way to beat out the others and lure him to the Wanda Metropolitano?

Nuno Espirito Santo

Exactly as Bordalas has done with Getafe, Nuno has built up Wolves in his image, bringing them from the English Championship up to the Premier League. The club is a leg away from the Europa League quarterfinals and competing for a top-four league finish. His achievements with Wolves have been nothing short of outstanding, and there’s no question he’s deserving of a job of this stature.

He’s got experience managing in Spain, spending 18 months with Valencia, during which he led the club to the Champions League and won the Manager of the Month award three times. He’s a very affable figure who would have no issue endearing himself to supporters. Bordalas would certainly come cheaper than Nuno and be easier to pry away, but at this price, it’s worth taking a flier on the Wolves boss.

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.